Criteria for Outpatient Use Guidelines
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Antidepressant Drugs
[Developed, January 1995; Revised, December 1996; September 1997; October 1998; October 1999; January 2000; October 2000; September 2001; November 2001; October 2002; November 2002; December 2003; March 2009; August 2009; September 2009; July 2011 ]
Information on indications for use or diagnosis is assumed to be unavailable. All criteria may be applied retrospectively; prospective application is indicated with [*].
1.* Dosage
Adults
The FDA requires that all antidepressant drugs display a black box warning describing the potential for increased suicidal thinking and behavior when prescribed to young adults (18 to 24 years of age) with MDD and other psychiatric disorders. In short-term clinical trials the suicide risk increased in young adults managed with antidepressants compared to those receiving placebo in the first few months of treatment. Suicide risk was not shown to increase in adults over 24 years of age, and patients 65 years of age and older manifested a decreased suicide risk. Young adult patients prescribed antidepressant drugs should be closely monitored for changes in behavior.
Antidepressant drugs are FDA-approved for use in major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder (PD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, bupropion is FDA-approved for seasonal affective disorder (AD) and smoking cessation (SC), fluoxetine is FDA-approved for use in managing bulimia nervosa (BN), milnacipran is FDA-approved for fibromyalgia (F) management, and duloxetine is FDA-approved for neuropathic pain (NP) and F. The newest antidepressant agent, vilazodone, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) as well as a partial agonist at the 5-HT1A receptor and is FDA approved for MDD. Recently, doxepin has received FDA approval for insomnia in adults (I) and duloxetine has received FDA approval for managing chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults (CMP). Combination therapy is FDA-approved for bipolar I disorder (BD), severe depression, treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and moderate anxiety/agitation/depression. Maximum recommended daily doses for antidepressant drugs in adults, including the elderly population, are summarized in Tables 1 and 2. Maximum recommended dosages for antidepressant combination therapy are summarized in Table 3. However, in all patients, the lowest effective antidepressant dose should be utilized to minimize unwanted adverse effects. Patient profiles with antidepressant dosages exceeding these recommendations will be reviewed.
| TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS | < 65 YEARS | > 65 YEARS |
|---|---|---|
| Amitriptyline (Elavil®, generics) | MDD: 150 mg/day | MDD: 150 mg/day |
| Amoxapine (Asendin®) | MDD: 300 mg/day* | MDD: 300 mg/day* |
| Clomipramine (Anafranil®, generics) | OCD: 250 mg/day | OCD: 250 mg/day |
| Desipramine (Norpramin®, generics) | MDD: 300 mg/day | MDD: 150 mg/day |
| Doxepin (Sinequan®, generics) | Depression, anxiety#: mild/moderate illness: 150 mg/day severe illness: 300 mg/day I (Silenor® only): 6 mg/day |
Depression, anxiety#: mild/moderate illness: 150 mg/day severe illness: 300 mg/day I (Silenor® only): 6 mg/day |
| Imipramine (Tofranil®, Tofranil-PM®, generics) | MDD: 200 mg/day | MDD: 100 mg/day |
| Nortriptyline (Pamelor®, Aventyl®, generics) | MDD: 150 mg/day | MDD: 150 mg/day |
| Protriptyline (Vivactil®, generics) | MDD: 60 mg/day | MDD: 60 mg/day+ |
| Trimipramine (Surmontil®) | MDD: 200 mg/day | MDD: 100 mg/day |
| TETRACYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS | ||
| Maprotiline (Ludiomil®, generics) | MDD**: 225 mg/day | MDD**: 225 mg/day |
| Mirtazapine (Remeron®) | MDD: 45 mg/day | MDD: 45 mg/day |
*The maximum amoxapine dose in elderly patients and in most adults is 300 mg/day. Those patients < 65 years of age who have not responded adequately to a
two-week trial utilizing 300 mg/day may receive a trial of 400 mg amoxapine per day.
+Elderly patients should usually be given lower than average protriptyline doses. Elderly patients receiving protriptyline doses greater than 20 mg daily should
receive close cardiac monitoring.
#Doxepin is recommended for depression and anxiety associated with psychoneurosis, alcoholism, and organic disease.
**Maprotiline is also used for dysthymic disorder and the depressive component of bipolar disorder.
| Drug | < 65 YEARS | > 65 YEARS |
|---|---|---|
| SSRIs: Citalopram (Celexa®) | MDD: 60 mg/day | MDD: 40 mg/day |
| SSRIs: Escitalopram (Lexapro®) | GAD, MDD: 20 mg/day | GAD: 20 mg/day MDD: 10 mg/day |
| SSRIs: Fluoxetine (Prozac®, Sarafem®, generics) | MDD, OCD: 80 mg/day BN, PD: 60 mg/day PMDD (Sarafem®): 80 mg/day | MDD, OCD: 80 mg/day BN, PD: 60 mg/day |
| SSRIs: Fluvoxamine [Luvox CR®, immediate-release (IR) generics] | OCD, SAD: 300 mg/day | OCD, SAD: 300 mg/day |
SSRIs: Paroxetine (Paxil®, Pexeva®, generics) |
IR: GAD, MDD: 50 mg/day controlled-release: MDD: 62.5 mg/day |
IR: 40 mg/day CR: 50 mg/day |
| SSRIs: Sertraline (Zoloft®, generics) | MDD, OCD, PD, SAD, PTSD: 200 mg/day PMDD: 150 mg/day | MDD, OCD, PD, SAD, PTSD: 200 mg/day |
| SSRIs/5-HT1A Receptor Agonists: Vilazodone (Viibryd®) | MDD: 40 mg/day | MDD: 40 mg/day |
| SNRIs: Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq®) | MDD: 50 mg/day^ | MDD: 50 mg/day^ |
| SNRIs: Duloxetine (Cymbalta®) | NP, F, CMP: 60 mg/day GAD, MDD: 120 mg/day# |
NP, F, CMP: 60 mg/day GAD, MDD:120 mg/day# |
| SNRIs: Milnacipran (Savella®) | F: 200 mg/day | F: 200 mg/day |
| SNRIs: Venlafaxine (Effexor®, Effexor XR®, generics) IR tablets: extended-release (ER) capsules: ER tablets: |
MDD: 375 mg/day~ GAD, MDD, PD: 225 mg/day SAD: 75 mg/day MDD: 225 mg/day SAD: 75 mg/day |
MDD: 375 mg/day~ GAD, MDD, PD: 225 mg/day SAD: 75 mg/day MDD: 225 mg/day SAD: 75 mg/day |
Miscellaneous Agents: Bupropion (Aplenzin®, Wellbutrin®) |
MDD: 450 mg/day MDD: 400 mg/day MDD: 522 mg/day AD: 300 mg/day SC: 300 mg/day |
MDD: 450 mg/day MDD: 400 mg/day MDD: 522 mg/day AD: 300 mg/day SC: 300 mg/day |
| Miscellaneous Agents: Nefazodone (Serzone®) | MDD: 600 mg/day | MDD: 600 mg/day |
| Miscellaneous Agents: Trazodone (Desyrel®, generics) |
IR: MDD: 400 mg/day |
IR: MDD: 400 mg/day CR: MDD: 375 mg/day |
++Data do not confirm that paroxetine doses greater than 20 mg/day in PTSD are more effective.
^In studies, desvenlafaxine doses up to 400 mg per day were no more effective than 50 mg daily doses and were associated with increased adverse events.
#Duloxetine doses of 120 mg, while effective, are no more effective than 60 mg daily doses.
~The maximum recommended venlafaxine dose is 225 mg/day for moderately depressed outpatients. Dosages greater than 225mg/day in moderately depressed outpatients do not demonstrate additional efficacy. However, more severely depressed inpatients may respond to venlafaxine dosages up to 375 mg/day.
| COMBINATION THERAPY | < 65 YEARS OF AGE | > 65 YEARS OF AGE |
|---|---|---|
| Olanzapine/fluoxetine (Symbyax®) | BD, TRD: 18 mg/75 mg per day | BD, TRD: 18 mg/75 mg per day+ |
| Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline (Limbitrol®, Limbitrol DS®, generics) | severe depression: |
severe depression: |
| Perphenazine/amitriptyline (generics) | anxiety/agitation/depression: |
anxiety/agitation/depression: |
*Lower chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline dosages and close monitoring are recommended in elderly patients due to greater risks for impaired cognitive/motor function.
Pediatrics
The FDA requires that all antidepressant drugs display a black box warning describing the potential for increased suicidal thinking and behavior when prescribed to children and adolescents with MDD and other psychiatric disorders. In short-term clinical trials the suicide risk occurred twice as frequently with antidepressant-treated children/adolescents compared to those receiving placebo (4% vs. 2%, respectively) in the first few months of treatment. Pediatric patients prescribed antidepressant drugs should be closely monitored for changes in behavior.
Bupropion, citalopram, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, maprotiline, mirtazapine, nefazodone, paroxetine, trazodone, venlafaxine, and vilazodone are not FDA-approved for use in pediatric patients as safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been well established.
Maximum recommended doses for antidepressant drugs approved for use in pediatric patients are summarized in Table 4. Dosages exceeding these recommendations will be reviewed.| DRUG | MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED DOSE |
|---|---|
| Tricyclic Antidepressants: Amitriptyline (generics) | MDD (> 12 years of age): 10 mg three times daily and 20 mg at bedtime |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants: Amoxapine (generics) | MDD (> 16 years of age): 400 mg/day |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants: Clomipramine (Anafranil®, generics) | OCD (> 10 years of age): 3 mg/kg/day or 200 mg/day, whichever is smaller |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants: Desipramine (Norpramin®, generics) | MDD (adolescents): 150 mg/day |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants: Doxepin (generics) | Depression or anxiety# (12 to 17 years of age): mild/moderate illness – 150 mg/day severe illness – 300 mg/day |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants: Imipramine (Tofranil®, Tofranil-PM®, generics) | MDD (adolescents): 100 mg/day Nocturnal enuresis (>6 years of age): 2.5 mg/kg/day |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants: Nortriptyline (Pamelor®, Aventyl®, generics) | MDD (adolescents): 50 mg/day |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants: Protriptyline (Vivactil®, generics) | MDD (adolescents): 60 mg/day* |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants: Trimipramine (Surmontil®) | MDD(adolescents): 100 mg/day |
| SSRIs: Escitalopram (Lexapro®) | MDD (12 to 17 years of age): 20 mg once daily |
| SSRIs: Fluoxetine (Prozac®, generics) | MDD: 20 mg/day OCD: 60 mg/day |
| SSRIs: Fluvoxamine (Luvox CR®, generics) | OCD: 8-11 years of age: 200 mg/day 12-17 years of age: 300 mg/day |
| SSRIs: Sertraline (Zoloft®, generics) | OCD: 6-17 years of age: 200 mg/day |
| MAOIs: Isocarboxazid (Marplan®) | MDD (> 16 years of age): 60 mg/day |
| MAOIs: Phenelzine (Nardil®, generics) | MDD (> 16 years of age): 90 mg/day |
| MAOIs: Tranylcypromine (Parnate®, generics) | MDD (> 16 years of age): 60 mg/day |
*Adolescents should usually be given lower than average protriptyline doses.
2. Duration of Therapy
There is no basis for limiting antidepressant therapy duration when used to manage MDD, OCD, GAD, PTSD, or PD as these disorders can all be characterized as chronic conditions.
While clinical trials have not evaluated vilazodone use in MDD beyond 8 weeks, it is accepted that vilazodone therapy may exceed 8 weeks, as acute episodes of MDD require extended (several months or longer) drug therapy. Patients should be periodically assessed for continued need for vilazodone treatment.
Clinical trials have documented fluoxetine efficacy in BN management for up to 52 weeks.
Fluoxetine has demonstrated efficacy in PMDD for up to 6 months when administered continuously and up to 3 months when administered intermittently. Paroxetine and sertraline have demonstrated efficacy in PMDD for up to 6 months and 12 months, respectively, in clinical trials. Patients should be assessed periodically to determine need for continued treatment. However, the potential exists for PMDD symptoms to worsen with advancing age until patients reach menopause. Patients responding to fluoxetine, paroxetine or sertraline therapy for PMDD may benefit from chronic administration.
Duloxetine treatment duration in diabetic NP lasting greater than 6 months has not been evaluated in clinical trials. Additionally, duloxetine efficacy in CMP beyond 13 weeks has not been established in clinical trials.
Duloxetine use lasting greater than 12 months as F therapy has not been evaluated in clinical trials. Recent clinical trials have evaluated milnacipran use for up to one year in F with sustained results in pain management. F patients should be routinely evaluated for treatment effectiveness, with milnacipran therapy tapered and discontinued if positive treatment outcomes are no longer present.3.* Duplicative Therapy
The concurrent use of two antidepressant medications with the same spectrum of activity may not be justified. The concomitant use of two cyclic antidepressants, two MAOIs, two SNRIs, or two SSRIs will be reviewed.
The concurrent use of three or more antidepressants is not justified. Therefore, the adjunctive use of three or more antidepressants, including MAOIs, SNRIs, SSRIs, cyclic antidepressants, trazodone, bupropion, and nefazodone, will be reviewed.
4.* Drug-Drug Interactions
Patient profiles will be assessed to identify those drug regimens which may result in clinically significant drug-drug interactions.
The following drug-drug interactions summarized in Table 5 are considered clinically relevant for antidepressants. Only those drug-drug interactions identified as clinical significance level 1 or those considered life-threatening which have not yet been classified will be reviewed:
| Target Drug | Interacting Drug | Interaction | Recommendations | Clinical Significance+,# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bupropion | systemic corticosteroids | concurrent administration may increase seizure risk as both agents lower seizure threshold | reduce initial doses and titrate doses upward slowly; monitor closely for seizure activity | major (DrugReax) 2-major (CP) |
| cyclic antidepressants, SNRIs, SSRIs, bupropion, nefazodone, trazodone, vilazodone | MAOIs* | increased risk of serotonin syndrome (e.g., mental status changes, hyperpyrexia, restless, shivering, hypertonia, tremor) due to serotonin metabolism inhibition by monoamine oxidase | allow 14 days after MAOI discontinuation before initiating other antidepressant therapy; wait 5 weeks after discontinuing fluoxetine before initiating MAOIs | contraindicated (DrugReax) 1 (DIF) 1-severe (CP) |
| fluoxetine | ergot derivatives | increased risk of ergotism due to fluoxetine inhibition of CYP3A4-mediated ergot metabolism | avoid concurrent use | contraindicated (DrugReax) major (CP) |
| MAOIs* | select CNS stimulants (amphetamines, atomoxetine, methylphenidate and derivatives) | increased risk of hypertensive crisis due to additive effects on catecholamine neurotransmitters | avoid concurrent use; allow two weeks between discontinuing MAOIs and initiating CNS stimulant therapy | contraindicated (DrugReax) 1 (DIF) 1-severe (CP) |
| MAOIs* | cyclobenzaprine | increased risk of hyperpyretic crisis, seizures and death potentially due to additive adrenergic activity | avoid concurrent use; allow two weeks between discontinuing MAOIs and initiating cyclobenzaprine therapy | contraindicated (DrugReax) 1 (DIF) 1-severe (CP) |
| MAOIs* | morphine | increased risk of hypotension and enhanced CNS/respiratory depressant effects as MAOIs amplify morphine pharmacologic effects | avoid concurrent use; allow two weeks between discontinuing morphine and initiating MAOI therapy | contraindicated (DrugReax) 1-severe (CP) |
| MAOIs* | sympathomimetics | increased risk of hypertensive crisis as MAOIs increase norepinephrine availability at neuronal storage sites as well as enhance adrenergic effects | avoid concurrent use; allow two weeks between discontinuing sympathomimetics and initiating MAOI therapy | contraindicated (DrugReax) 1 (DIF) 1-severe (CP) |
| nefazodone (NZD) | carbamazepine | reduced NZD serum levels/antidepressant effects and increased carbamazepine (CBZ) serum levels and potential for toxicity due to induced CYP3A4-mediated NZD metabolism and inhibited CYP3A4-mediated CBZ metabolism | avoid concurrent use | contraindicated (DrugReax) 2 (DIF) 1-severe (CP) |
| NZD | pimozide | enhanced pimozide pharmacologic effects and potential for cardiovascular toxicity due to NZD-mediated CYP3A4 inhibition | avoid concurrent use | contraindicated (DrugReax) 1 (DIF) 1-severe (CP) |
| SNRIs, SSRIs, vilazodone | anticoagulants | co-administration may increase bleeding risk due to impaired platelet aggregation most likely resulting from platelet serotonin depletion | patients should be monitored for signs/symptoms of bleeding (including INR) if combined therapy necessary | major (DrugReax) 3-moderate (CP) |
| SNRIs | antiplatelet agents | adjunctive administration may increased bleeding risk due to impaired platelet aggregation most likely resulting from platelet serotonin depletion | patients should be monitored for signs/symptoms of bleeding if combined therapy necessary | major (DrugReax) 3-moderate (CP) |
| SNRIs, SSRIs, vilazodone | drugs with serotonergic properties (e.g., antipsychotics, dextromethorphan, tramadol, triptans) or dopamine antagonist properties (e.g., phenothiazines, metoclopramide) | combined use may increase risk of serotonin syndrome or neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) | cautiously administer concurrently and closely observe for signs/symptoms of serotonin syndrome or NMS, especially with treatment initiation or dosage increases | major (DrugReax) 2-major (CP) |
| SNRIs, SSRIs | tramadol | increased risk of serotonin syndrome and seizures due to increased nervous system serotonin concentrations (additive effects on serotonin, SSRI inhibition of CYP2D6-mediated tramadol metabolism) as well as potential reduced seizure threshold with SNRIs, SSRIs | avoid concurrent use | major (DrugReax) 1 (DIF) 2-major (CP) |
| SSRIs, TCAs | pimozide | increased risk of pimozide toxicity including cardiotoxicity (QT prolongation) due to elevated plasma concentrations or additive effects on QT interval | avoid concurrent use | contraindicated (DrugReax) 1 (DIF) 1-severe (CP) |
| SSRIs, TCAs, duloxetine | select phenothiazines (mesoridazine, thioridazine) | increased risk of somnolence, bradycardia and serious cardiotoxicity (QT prolongation, torsades de pointes) due to potential additive effects on QT interval prolongation; increased thioridazine serum concentrations/decreased thioridazine elimination and potential for serious cardiac arrhythmias due to CYP2D6 inhibition by duloxetine, fluoxetine, or paroxetine | avoid concurrent use; if adjunctive use necessary, monitor for increased pharmacologic/toxic effects; adjust dose as necessary | contraindicated (DrugReax) 1 (DIF) 1-severe (CP) |
| SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs* | sibutramine | increased risk for serotonin syndrome potentially due to additive inhibitory effects on serotonin metabolism | avoid concurrent use; allow two weeks between discontinuing SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs and initiating sibutramine therapy | MAOIs: contraindicated (DrugReax) SNRIs, SSRIs: major (DrugReax) MAOIs: 2 (DIF) SSRIs, SNRIs: 1 (DIF) MAOIs: 1-severe (CP) SNRIs, SSRIs: 2-major (CP) |
| vilazodone | CYP3A4 inducers | combined administration may result in reduced vilazodone serum levels and decreased pharmacologic effects, as vilazodone is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 | monitor for decreased pharmacologic effects and adjust doses as necessary | 3-moderate (CP) |
| vilazodone | CYP3A4 inhibitors | adjunctive administration may result in increased vilazodone serum levels and enhanced pharmacologic/adverse effects, as vilazodone is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 | monitor for increased pharmacologic/adverse effects; reduce vilazodone dose to 20 mg daily when prescribed concurrently with strong (e.g., ketoconazole) CYP3A4 inhibitors; reduce vilazodone dose to 20 mg daily when co-administered with moderate (e.g., erythromycin) CYP3A4 inhibitors and intolerable adverse effects are present | moderate (DrugReax) 2-major (CP) |
*MAOIs include tranylcypromine, phenelzine, isocarboxazid, procarbazine, selegiline, rasagiline, and linezolid.
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Prepared by: Drug Information Service, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and the College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin.